The International journal of artificial organs
-
Multicenter Study Comparative Study
A comparison of two citrate anticoagulation regimens for continuous veno-venous hemofiltration.
To assess the safety and efficacy of two different commercial citrate containing pre-filter replacement fluids during continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) in patients with frequent filter clotting. ⋯ We have developed a simple approach to regional citrate anticoagulation for CVVH using a commercial citrate-containing fluid as replacement fluid. Increasing citrate concentration from 11 to 14 mmol/L increased filter life while maintaining relative safety and simplicity.
-
Current outcome prediction in critically ill patients relies on the art of clinical judgement and/or the science of prognostication using illness severity scores. The biochemical processes underlying critical illness have increasingly been unravelled. ⋯ A simple biochemical predictor of ICU mortality will probably remain elusive because the processes underlying critical illness are very complex and heterogeneous. Future prognostic models will need to be far more sophisticated.